Battle burns and a Sympathy card
Albus woke up and his stomach lurched as he knew immediately that he was not in his bed. It was the itchy sheets and rigid mattress that gave away that he was in the hospital ward.
That was strange, he hardly had a reason too. He closed his eyes, hoping to jog his memory.
Scorching scarlet flames flowed out of the tip of his wand. The smell of smoke and earth. The excited cheers of the students and the loud booming orders from the professors; all were deafened out by Cecilia's loud shout of 'Expelliarmus bitch!'.
Albus opened his eyes and screwed his face up in shame.
"Morning sleepy head." came Cecilia's voice in a perky, although strained, tone. He rolled over to the right and saw her lying in the next bed.
"Good morning." Albus said back, he was surprised by his croaky voice and the metallic taste of blood lingering in his mouth. "Aren't you looking classy?" he smirked. She laughed loudly, her left leg was in a cast; bruises ran up her arm, and a small red scratch cut across her cheek. "You should see Caldwell!" she said,
Albus sat up and glanced around the ward full of empty, neatly made beds.
"Not here." Cecilia said quickly, Albus flopped back on the bed and gave her a questioning look. "He kind of... had to go to St Mungo"
"What? How did that happen?"
"The fight went on for a couple of hours." she said matter-of-factly, "There was a lot of damage... Oh yeah! Look at this!" Cecilia rolled to the right so that her back faced Albus, she pulled up the back of her blue striped pyjama shirt.
"Oh! Ugh! That's disgusting!" Albus stretched his arm out to cover up his view of the massive, charcoal-black burn that stretched over the curve of her back. She pulled her shirt back down and rolled over to face Albus again.
"I know right! I think it tops that bruise I got from when Girton whacked me with that big arse bat!"
"Definitely! It's literally all over your back."
Cecilia's face brightened up by the shock and astonishment in his reaction. "Thank you!... when Minnie saw it she just looked at me like this." Cecilia's face suddenly became cold, she gave Albus an extremely haughty look complete with narrowed eyes.
"That on your back is nothing to be proud of." Minerva appeared from behind Cecilia's bed screen.
"Oh." Cecilia said, she smiled innocently "... Good morning!"
"Morning." Minerva said, she walked up in between their beds and hovered there silently for a bit. She casually picked up the limp, yellowish daisies that sat in identical vases, threw them into the bin; then took out two daffodils and popped one into each vase.
"Finally woken up then?" she turned to Albus and sat on his bed, just next to his knees. Her crossed arms uncoiled, one reached his hand and held it tightly; the other gripped the bed linen.
"Are those flowers?" Albus smirked, he lifted his hand that held hers and pointed to the daffodils.
"Do you know that you've been out for fifteen days?" she said, ignoring him, and dropping their hands back on the bed.
"Those are flowers."
"You actually bought us flowers?" Cecilia squealed.
"No, I shat them out. You know your classy when you crap out flowers." Minerva scowled. She looked at the said flowers with a frown on her face. "I was so worried."
"I'm sorry." Albus smiled weakly at her, "You touch everyone with a golden aura. Your armpits smell of roses and you sneeze out stardust."
"... You're forgiven." said Minerva, with a small smile. "Have you been using that ointment?" she pointed at a small tub on the bedside table, "The nurse said that your burn would go away in two days if you use that?"
"Never!" Cecilia declared, Minerva rolled her eyes.
"How come you here anyway?" Cecilia glanced at her watch, "It's ten past eleven, so it's.." she looked out of the window thoughtfully whilst counting her fingers, "... it's supposed to be Herbolo-... Transfiguration!"
"Potions actually." corrected Albus.
"I'm out of lesson to go to a meeting with all the other prefects and staff."
"Fuck... It's the Ball meeting isn't it?" he asked, fearing her answer.
"Yes, and Elphias is going with me to represent you." Minerva sighed, she touched his hand, "But you'll be in my head the whole time, I promise."
"Just make the Ball as camp as it gets." Albus pouted.
"I can't wait!" Minerva gushed, "The dresses!"
"The food!" Cecilia cried,
"Guys in suits!" Albus joined in.
"Oh yes dear!" Minerva applauded him, she glanced at her watch, "Right kids, I have to go." she announced. She exchanged air kisses with Albus then got up, "Can I trust that you won't be beating anyone up while I'm away?" she said sternly, she bent down and awkwardly hugged Cecilia who was lying flat.
"I can't promise anything." Cecilia smirked. As Minerva pulled away Cecilia clasped her hand. Her smirk was replaced with a thoughtful frown, she looked down at their entwined fingers. "I'm so sorry for making you worry." Her tone was the most sincere and serious Albus had ever heard it. "I'm not sorry for him though. I don't give a shit about him... He deserved it."
"I don't think he deserved that." Minerva said quietly. Cecilia suddenly sat up; her face was contorted with pain from the sharp movement.
"He called you a-!"
"-Shh." Minerva pressed a finger on her lip. Cecilia silenced immediately. Minerva put her hand on Cecilia's shoulder and lightly returned Cecilia to lay back down. "It's okay."
"But he called you a-"
"Just shut up and have some rest." Minerva placed her palm on Cecilia's sweaty forehead; she didn't flinch away at all, she stayed silent and looked up at the ceiling. "Your temp's too high." Minerva tutted, she slicked away a few golden strands that stuck to Cecilia's forehead. "Okay...now I'm late for the meeting! I'll visit later!" she swung her bag over her shoulder and hurriedly began walking away.
"See ya' sweet cheeks." Albus grinned.
"Later sugar tits." she called back. He layed down on his mattress and listened to her footsteps thud loudly on the hardwood floor, gradually quietening down until distant echoes. He turned around, expecting conversation from Cecilia. She didn't talk, or look over at him. She was still staring up silently at the ceiling, just as Minerva had left her.
"He called her a filthy half blood." she whispered to herself, she blinked tiredly. She closed her eyes and her breathing slowed. Albus was both freaked out by, and adored how innocent she looked asleep. He spotted the solitary tear running down Cecilia's scratched cheek. He was pretty certain of it before but now it was confirmed, a rush of guilt washed over him as he knew she had no chance.
"Sleep well my dear" Albus cooed, then blushed and felt very thankful that the nurse was out.
He yawned purely out of boredom and picked up the stack of 'Get well soon' cards on the bedside table and read through them.
He neatly put a card back into its envelope then picked up a card that was clearly just an old letter folded in half. A grin spread across his face as he read the carelessly scrawled words written inside.
To Albus
So you finally slipped up.
I'm gonna show everyone that they've been loving the wrong brother. Just because you're a couple of months older than me and you're in Griffindor doesn't mean that you're any better. Ravenclaws at the top of the Quidditch tournament right now... thanks to that McLaggen staying put in the hospital ward with you.
Get well soon
Hey! I don't mean 'get well' as in get better and smile and all that shit you know! I just think it'd be bad if you got you're arms and legs broken. YOU'RE STILL A DICKHEAD!
From Aberforth
P.S- Mum's PISSED at you!
A/N
Hola! Thank you for reading! Feel free to give me critique and any feedback because it's alway lovely to read ^-^
'Til the next chapter ~dumplingdoo